Creating your hedge fund formation can be a challenging ordeal. It is a long process that requires much research, paperwork, communication, preparation and much more.
More importantly, starting a hedge fund will require that you are a smart investor and that you are working with other like-minded investors.
This article will discuss the top ten hedge fund firms that you should consider working with and tell you about the company and what the employees who work there think about the firm.
We believe that you can tell a lot about a firm and a company by how well their employees speak about it or how poorly an employee speaks about it.
If you are an investor and someone looking to take their investments to the next level then sticks around because this is precisely the article for you.
The Top Ten Hedge Fund Firms For Investors Who Are Looking To Start Their Own Hedge Fund Formation
# 1 – Bridgewater Associates LP
Hitting off this list is Bridgewater Associates LP. Bridgewater Associates LP is the largest hedge fund, managers. They manage over $150 billion in global investments. Moreover, these investment spans across a wide array of professions from:
- institutional clients
- central banks
- government
- corporate funds
- pension funds
- additionally, many more
They have proved that they are the giants in their industry and we would have to agree because when you can hedge fund managers for Governments, then you know you are at the top of your investing game.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
A Senior Associate – Glassdoor Review
I have been working, here, at Bridgewater Associates full-time (More than ten years).
The Pros of working here:
I get to work with the smartest (really), most driven people I have ever known. As a result, I’m continually learning, growing and invigorated by the work I do. In my several years of working at Bridgewater, I also could transition into different roles which have allowed fantastic experience and continued development.
The Cons:
This is a challenging place with much focus on our weaknesses to help with constant growth and achievement. That can be, a bit, difficult and not for those uncomfortable with accepting their limitations or potentially not for those who would like to have a job that is defined and within the limits of their abilities.
# 2 – J.P. Morgan Asset Management
J.P. Morgan Asset Management is a subset of the larger JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM Chase is a powerhouse of an investment company with this company having over 2.4 trillion dollars in assets.
Let that sink in for a moment. This is indeed a mega house company that you can start to invest in and have high confidence in knowing that your investment will be handled with the best of cares.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Employee Review – Glassdoor Review
I worked at J.P. Morgan full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Compensation, the opportunity for promotion, meritocracy, great brand, and history.
Cons
In the news for good and evil often as they have a bullseye on their back being such a large company.
# 3 – Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC
Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is a hedge fund specialist from that was started by Och-Ziff. He and his company by extension focus on”
- multi-strategy funds
- credit funds
- real estate funds
- equity funds
- collateralized lawn obligations (CLOs)
- moreover, many other
As you can see they (the form) focus a great deal on funds an this is not too hard to imagine as they consider themselves as hedge FUND specialist.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Former Employee – Glassdoor Review
I worked at Oz Management full-time.
Pros
Inclusive environment, company provide lunch
Cons
Internal mobility is not that much.
# 4 – Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP
Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP is a hedge fund firm located in London. They have around $40 billion in hedge fund assets easily making them a very prominent hedge fund from in the world.
They are the premier hedge fund from in all of Europe, and the most impressive feats are that they are relatively new as they were founded back in 2002.
They focus on:
- multiple assets
- Currencies
- commodities
- fixed-income securities
- and many there
Due to their very diverse background in so many areas they are easily one of the most trusted and well-established hedge fund firms in the world.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Current Employee – Glassdoor Review
I have been working, here, at Brevan Howard full-time.
Pros
Excellent, exciting job opportunities with ok staff and excellent benefits. Multicultural job environment (which is a plus). They have very amazing looking offices.
Cons
The company (Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP) tends to have quite an intensive and demanding job environment.
# 5 – BlueCrest Capital Management
BlueCrest Capital Management is yet another hedge fund form that operates in Europe. They have around $34. 2 billion in assets. They work by using two streams of income which the alternative investment managements and the other are being hedge fund management.
They are another giant in Europe and easily one of the most recognizable hedge fund firms in the world.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Current Employee – Glassdoor review
I have been working here full-time
Pros
- a truly dynamic environment with brilliant people
- the entrepreneurial spirit in most groups
- competitive yet not adversarial climate
- flat management structure
Cons
- attempts to keep costs low sometimes goes a bit too far
- poor communication from management
- comp less than competitive
# 6 – BlackRock
BlackRock is a New-York that has over 11,000 employees; thus making them one of the largest asset management companies you will come across. More impressive however is the value of this company. They are estimated to have $4.32 trillion in the asset, and they manage over $31.3 billion in hedge funds.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Current Employee – Glassdoor Review
I have been working at BlackRock full-time (More than ten years)
Pros
This organization (BlackRock) relentlessly strives to innovate. In spite of its size, the firm is impressively agile in detecting emerging trends in the market and adopting changes. Tons of intelligent people is a big plus. I can feel I continuously learn many valuable skill sets through interacting with them.
Cons
If you do not feel comfortable with fast changes and cannot handle stress, this firm is not your place.
# 7 – AQR Capital Management LLC
AQR Capital Management LLC is a very well established hedge fund management company. Although not on par with some of the previous entries on this list the company still is very impressive in its own right. Managing over $29.9 billion in hedge fund magenta their investment style focuses heavily on global investments.
As well as:
- public equity
- public futures
- municipal bonds
- private bonds
- over-the-counter derivatives
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Current Employee – Glassdoor Review
I have been working at AQR Capital Management full-time (More than five years)
Pros
I’ve been at AQR for almost six years, and it’s my 4th full-time job in my career, so I have some perspective. Frankly, I’d love to retire here.
The culture at AQR is unlike anywhere else in that people are brilliantly smart across the board. Street-smart, book-smart, you name it. That said they don’t show off about it or try to one-up each other.
Cons
The commute for people living in NYC is tough. Luckily the offices are in the parking lot of the train station, and if you like reading, you’ve been gifted 1.5hrs of quiet reading time every day.
# 8 – Lone Pine Capital LLC
Lone Pine Capital LLC is a hedge fund company located in Connecticut. They have a unique investment style in which they combine fundamental analysis and fuse it with a bottom-up approach. They are reported to management around $29 billion in Hedge funds.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Former Contractor – GlassDoor Review
I worked at Lone Pine Capital as a contractor (Less than a year)
Pros
Friendly, Professional, Great Communication, Attentive to his employees, Generous, Intelligent, high positive energy.
Cons
There were no open positions available.
# 9 – Man Group plc
Man Group plc is yet another London based hedge fund company. They are considered by many in Europe to be a leading hedge fund management company.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Current Employee – Glassdoor Review
I have been working at Man Group full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Smart people, collegial environment, flat structure, fast growing, lots of opportunities
Cons
not too much downside, the pace could be faster, but some of that is just nature of research
# 10 – Viking Global Investors
Lastly is Viking Global Investors. They are another Connecticut based hedge fund management firm with them estimated to manage around $27.1 billion in hedge funds.
What Do The Employees Have To Say About This Firm?
Former Employee
I worked at here full-time (More than five years)
Pros
- the pay is great
- physical office space
- some of the co-workers are nice
Cons
- Too much turnover
- Some of the co-workers are not nice.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have a clear understanding of some of these hedge fund firms you should be much more confident in deciding which company/ firm you would like to work with. We believe that the best way to learn about a coney is also by hearing what employees have to say as well.
It is always the best thing for a company to want the absolute best from its employees so that they too can provide the best for their investors.
Recap:
# 1 – Bridgewater Associates LP
They have proved that they are the giants in their industry and we would have to agree because when you can hedge fund managers for Governments, then you know you are at the top of your investing game.
# 2 – J.P. Morgan Asset Management
J.P. Morgan Asset Management is a subset of the larger JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM Chase is a powerhouse of an investment company with this company having over 2.4 trillion dollars in assets.
# 3 – Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC
Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC is Och-Ziff started a hedge fund specialist from that.
# 4 – Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP
Brevan Howard Asset Management LLP is a hedge fund firm located in London. They have around $40 billion in hedge fund assets easily making them a very prominent hedge fund from in the world.
# 5 – BlueCrest Capital Management
BlueCrest Capital Management is yet another hedge fund form that operates in Europe. They have around $34. 2 billion in assets. They work by using two streams of income which other investment management and the other are being hedge fund management.
# 6 – BlackRock
BlackRock is a New-York that has over 11,000 employees; thus making them one of the largest asset management companies you will come across. More impressive however is the value of this company. They are estimated to have $4.32 trillion in the asset, and they manage over $31.3 billion in hedge funds.
# 7 – AQR Capital Management LLC:
AQR Capital Management LLC is a very well established hedge fund management company. Although not on par with some of the previous entries on this list the company still is very impressive in its own right. Managing over $29.9 billion in hedge fund magenta their investment style focuses heavily on global investments.
# 8 – Lone Pine Capital LLC:
Lone Pine Capital LLC is a hedge fund company located in Connecticut. They have a unique investment style in which they combine fundamental analysis and fuse it with a bottom-up approach.
# 9 – Man Group plc
Man Group plc is yet another London based Hedge Fund Company. They are considered by many in Europe to be a leading hedge fund management company.
# 10 – Viking Global Investors
They are another Connecticut based hedge fund management firm with them estimated to manage around $27.1 billion in hedge funds.